Commissioner
Ward speaking to the graduates of the Environmental Protection Police
Academy.

Thirty-two graduates of the inaugural class of DEP’s Environmental
Protection Police Academy, were inducted into the DEP Environmental Police
Force by Commissioner Christopher O. Ward at a ceremony on Thursday, February
20, 2003. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the State
Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Police, the
New York State Director of Homeland Security and the New York State Department
of Corrections. The Environmental Protection Police Academy, the first
of its kind in the nation, was launched to provide top-notch training
to new cadets.

Addressing the Class of 2003 at the Quimby Theater of Ulster County Community
College, Commissioner Ward said, “I want to welcome the graduates
of the class of 2003 to DEP’s Environmental Police Force. You are
in the unique position of being the first law enforcement officers to
experience this intense training in environmental law enforcement and
protection. The many hours of concentrated course work at the Academy,
including advanced police tactics and use of state-of-the-art equipment
will ensure your commitment to preservation of our natural resources and
containment of criminal and environmentally destructive activities. You
are the front line of our efforts to protect our watersheds. You and your
families should be proud of your achievement and special status,”
continued Commissioner Ward.

The first group of recruits at the Environmental Police Academy experienced
twenty weeks of intensive training in environmental law and police administration,
which included basic police training in laws of arrest, use of force,
justification, firearms, defensive tactics, terrorism and police science.
In addition, courses covered environmental conservation law training in
lands and forests, fish and wildlife, stream protection and fresh water
wetlands.

The graduates are:

Members
of the 2003 graduating class of DEP's Environmental Protection Police
Academy.